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Temptation of Jesus: 40 Days in the Desert

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Scripture Used to Create the Splice “40 Days in the Desert”

Matthew 4:1-11 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Matthew 4:1)

Mark 1:12-13 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Mark 1:12)

Luke 4:1-13 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Luke 4:1)

 

Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

 

THE SPLICE

Jesus, 1 abounding in the Holy Spirit, 2 returned from the Jordan and immediately the Spirit 3 impelled Him to go out into the 4 wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  And He was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days and nights, being tempted by 5 Satan. And in those forty days and nights, He was with 6 wild beasts. Also, while in the wilderness, He had eaten nothing and after Jesus had 7 fasted for the forty days and nights, He became hungry.

And the tempter, the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread; tell this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘8 MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’” And the devil 9 took Him to the holy city Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; for it is written, ‘10 HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU TO GUARD YOU,’ and, ‘11 ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’” And Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written and it is said, ‘12 YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’”

Again, the devil took Him up to a very high mountain and showed Him all the 13 kingdoms of the world and their glory in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “14 I will give You all this domain and its glory; all these things will I give You; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore if You worship before me, if You fall down and worship me, it shall all be Yours.” Then Jesus answered him, “Go Satan! For it is written, ‘15 YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’” When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an 16 opportune time and 17 behold, angels went to Jesus and began to 18 minister to Him and were ministering to Him.

 

NOTES

1 abounding in the Holy Spirit: The Greek word used here for abounding or full is plérés and means to be “completely occupied with or completely full, to be completely covered”. (Back)

 

2 returned from the Jordan: Jesus had just finished His baptism with John the Baptist. To read about the Baptism of Jesus, see Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22, and John 1:32-34 for John’s testimony concerning the event. To read the Splice about the baptism of Jesus, click here. (Back)

 

3 impelled: See Mark 1:12. The Greek word used for impelled in Mark 1:12 is ekballo which means “to drive out” or “throw out” or “cast out”. (Back)

 

4 wilderness: The Greek word used for wilderness is erémos and means “solitary” or “desolate”. (Back)

 

5 Satan: the name Satan means “adversary”. (Back)

 

6 wild beasts: I looked up what animals live in the Palestinian desert/Judean desert and although I’m sure there have been changes over the past 2000 years, it gives an idea of what could have been living there at the time, including the Syrian brown bear which is now, sadly, extinct in Israel. (Back)

 

7 fasted for the forty days and nights: We know that Jesus fasted from food, but it is unknown if He was drinking water, as the Bible doesn’t talk about that specifically. Moses fasted 40 days from both water and food while he was in the presence of God, writing the Ten Commandments. We should consider these fasts as supernatural miracles, and therefore no one should be attempting to fast from food and water for 40 days in today’s era. (Back)

 

8 MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE: Jesus is quoting Deuteronomy 8:3. (Back)

 

9 took: The Greek word used for took in Matthew 4:5, 8 is paralambanó and it means “to take” but with a strong interpersonal and active connotation. Also see the Greek word lambanó. Luke uses a different word in Luke 4:5, 9. The word he uses is agó and it means “to lead”. (Back)

 

10 HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS: Satan is referencing Psalm 91:11. (Back)

 

11 ON their HANDS THEY WILL: A reference to Psalm 91:12. (Back)

 

12 YOU SHALL NOT PUT: Deuteronomy 6:16. (Back)

 

13 kingdoms of the world: The Greek word for world used here is oikoumené and means the “inhabited world”. (Back)

 

14 I will give You: Satan is a liar (John 8:44). He doesn’t have the authority to give the dominion or the glory of the kingdoms or of the world away. In totality, it isn’t his; it belonged to God then and it belongs to God now and that includes the governments, the land and all of the people. Jesus is God and therefore already had these things. Reference Psalm 24:1; Matthew 28:18; John 1:1, John 3:35; John 14:10-11; John 17:1-2; Romans 13:1, Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:2. What Satan has dominion over is the ability to wreak havoc on human beings, to lure them into sin, get them to serve him, and to rule over the demons. What has been given to him, by God, is the power over the evilness and vileness of the world (see Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:26; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12) . Also, Jesus doesn’t need the world’s faded, imperfect and temporal glory. He has His own exalted, perfect and eternal glory (Daniel 7:13-14; Revelation 5; 7:9-12; 19:1). See Exodus 33:18-23 and 34:5-7; 29-35 to read more about God’s glory. (Back)

 

15 YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD: Deuteronomy 6:13 and 10:20 both make this command clear. (Back)

 

16 opportune time: There were lots of opportune times during Jesus’s ministry that the devil could have been around, but two times in particular come to mind. There was the time Peter told Jesus that He would never be killed in Jerusalem in Matthew 16:23. We can assume here that Satan has influenced Peter’s words by what Jesus says. Another time would be when Satan enters Judas to begin the crucifixion process (see  John 13:2 and John 13:27). (Back)

 

17 behold: The Greek word for behold is horaó and it means “to see” or “look”. Behold is a bit of an old-fashioned word for modern English speakers, but it is equivalent to saying “look here/see here” or “understand”. (Back)

 

18 minister: The Greek word for minister is diakoneó and it means “to serve” in general. But it also means to “wait at table”. I think the angels did serve Jesus in general, but it is possible that they also brought Him food. (Back)

The Burial of Jesus

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Scripture Used to Create the Splice “The Burial of Jesus”

Matthew 27:57-66 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Matthew 27:57)

Mark 15:42-47 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Mark 15:42)

Luke 23:50-56 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Luke 23:50)

John 19:31-42 (Greek Text Analysis starting with John 19:31)

 

Need to catch up first? To read the Splice “The Crucifixion: Part Two”, click here.

 

Revelation 21:4
“…and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

 

THE SPLICE

Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, so that the 1 bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (2 for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that 3 their 4 legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him; but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.  But one of the soldiers 5 pierced His side with a spear, and immediately 6 blood and water came out. And 7 he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, 8 “NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN.” And again another Scripture says, 9 “THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED.” After these things, when it was still evening, a rich man named Joseph of Arimathea (Arimathea is a city of the Jews), who was a prominent member of the 10 Council,  a good and righteous man (he had not consented to their plan and action against Jesus), himself had 11 also become a disciple of Jesus/being a disciple of Jesus/waiting for the kingdom of God, but a secret disciple for 12 fear of the Jews, he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus that he might take away the body of Jesus; Pilate 13 wondered if He was dead by this time, and summoning the centurion, he questioned him as to whether He was already dead. And ascertaining this from the centurion, Pilate 14 granted permission/ordered it to be given, the body of Jesus, to Joseph. Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down from the cross. 15 Nicodemus (a Pharisee), who had first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a 16 mixture of myrrh and aloes, about 17 a hundred pounds weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in clean linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb. This was Joseph of Arimathea’s own new tomb, which he had hewn and cut out in the rock, in which no one had yet been laid for burial. Therefore because of the 18 Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, 19 he/they laid the body of Jesus inside the new tomb; and 20 Joseph rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away (as did Nicodemus, but it is unclear when he left).  There were women who had been at the crucifixion, who among them was 21 Mary Magdalene and 22 Mary, the mother of Joses 23 and the other Mary. 24 These women had come with Him out of Galilee. They followed Joseph to see where Jesus was buried, and saw the tomb and was looking on to see how His body was prepared for burial. While the body was being prepared for burial, at least Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting opposite the grave. Then 25 they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested 26 according to the commandment.  Now on the next day, the day after the preparation the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate, and said, “Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I am to rise again.’ Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, 27 “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.” And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a 28 seal on the stone that Joseph had rolled against the entrance.

 

Impression of Night

 

Want to continue reading? To read the Splice “The Resurrection: Part One”, click here.

 

Notes

 

bodies would not remain on the cross: The reason why the Jews did not want the bodies of the dead hanging on the crosses after sundown was because of Deuteronomy 21:23. However, Deuteronomy 21:23 does not specify that only Sabbaths and high days are to observe this mandate. Joshua obeys the mandate, with no mention of the day of the week in Joshua 8:29 and 10:26-27. Roman crucifixion practices normally left people to hang there on the cross until they died, and that could take days. (Back)

2 for that Sabbath was a high day:  This high day was in accordance with Exodus 12:16, Leviticus 23:5-8. (Back)

3 their: Referring to Jesus and the two thieves that were crucified that day, too (Matthew 27:38). (Back)

4 legs might be broken: This detail is found in John 19:32. The legs of victims of crucifixion were broken or smashed by an iron club. This practice was called crurifragium. It was used to expedite the deaths of the crucifixion victims. With smashed legs, the victim could no longer use their leg muscles to push themselves upwards to breathe. Thus, many of the deaths of crucifixion victims were due to asphyxiation. (Back)

5 pierced His side with a spear: The soldiers already knew that Jesus was dead; this is why they didn’t break His legs (John 19:33). This seems to be a sadistic act, with no apparent use other than to amuse the soldiers. But the real reason is because God allowed it to happen, to show that Jesus was truly dead. A piercing through the side with a spear would most certainly puncture vital organs. (Back)

6  blood and water came out: A medical explanation for this event would be because the soldier stabbed through Jesus’s heart. For a comprehensive explanation, view this article.  (Back)

7 he who has seen has testified: From John 19:35. “He who has seen and testified” is John, the writer of the Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John,  and Revelation. (Back)

8 NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN: From Psalm 34:20. In Exodus 12:46 and in Numbers 9:12, God gives the command that none of the Passover lamb’s bones should be broken. Jesus is our Passover Lamb, as written by Paul in 1 Corinthians 5:7. (Back)

9 THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED: Zechariah 12:10. (Back)

10 Council: The Council, which was made up of the members of the Sanhedrin, was the exact group orchestrating the death of Jesus (Matthew 26:3-4, 59, Mark 14:1, 55, Luke 19:47, John 11:47-53). (Back)

11 disciple of Jesus/being a disciple/waiting for the kingdom of God: Matthew 27:57 says “also became a disciple of Jesus”, Mark 15:43 and Luke 23:51 says “waiting for the kingdom of God”, and John 19:38 says “being a disciple”. (Back)

12 fear of the Jews: The Pharisees were excommunicating people for loyalty to Jesus (see John 12:42). Excommunication excluded a person from all religious participation, social participation and even from business participation.  An excommunicated person became a total pariah; even the family members had to stop all association with that person, or the family would also risk excommunication (see John 9:1-41 on one man’s story of excommunication). The hate of others is a byproduct of faith in Christ (see Luke 21:16-17). (Back)

13 wondered if He was dead: Victims of crucifixion didn’t normally have a mercifully quick death, and six hours was comparatively quick. Victims could be hanging on the cross for days. To die in a matter of 6-ish hours was rare, if not unprecedented.  (Back)

14 granted permission/ordered it to be given: Matthew 27:58 says “ordered it to be given”, Mark 15:45 and John 19:38 say “granted permission”. (Back)

15 Nicodemus: Nicodemus’s story can be found in John 3:1-21. (Back)

16 mixture of myrrh and aloes: The Jewish people, as well as the Romans, did not use the embalming practices of the Egyptians. The myrrh and aloes were used for the burial materials in place of embalming, on Friday afternoon/towards evening. Mary Magdalene and the Galilean ladies bring spices and perfumes on Sunday morning for anointing (Greek word aleipho), but also due to the assumed decay, and therefore subsequent smell, of the body (see Mark 16:1, Luke 23:56, 24:1). (Back)

17 a hundred pounds weight: A Roman pound was 12 ounces, so this weight would be about 75 pounds in today’s current conventional measurement, where 16 ounces equals 1 pound. In metrics (24.35 grams equals an ounce), the weight would be around 30 kilograms. (Back)

18 Jewish day of preparation: The day before the Sabbath. (Back)

19 he/they laid the body of Jesus: Matthew 27:60 and Mark 15:46 mention only Joseph and John 19:42 says “they” (Back)

20 Joseph rolled a large stone: In all likelihood, Joseph ordered several slaves to do the rolling (he’s rich, Matthew 27:57), but the Bible doesn’t say that. Joseph most certainly couldn’t have rolled the stone by himself. This stone is so large, that the ladies going to the burial site on Sunday morning don’t know how they will move it away from the tomb’s entrance (Mark 16:3-4). An angel removes it before they get to the tomb (Matthew 28:2). (Back)

21 Mary Magdalene: Poor Mary M! Ugly rumors have circled around her for centuries, such as claims that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. There is absolutely nothing in the Bible to suggest that Ms. Magdalene was a prostitute. We know that she followed Jesus on His travels, just like the Twelve disciples did, due to Luke 8:1-2; we know that she had seven demons cast out of her due to Luke 8:2, and she was probably supporting Jesus’s ministry with her personal funds, due to Luke 8:3. She was not the only woman in the traveling group. Luke 8:3 tells us there were several women traveling with Jesus and The Twelve. Because of John 6:9, I think there were children traveling with the group, as well and because of 1 Corinthians 9:5, I believe it possible that the married disciples brought their (believing) wives even early in the ministry (1 Corinthians 9:5 refers to a time much later), which also lends credence to children being present. In any case the women that were present could have possibly been utilized to spread the word about Jesus to the women in the villages where Jesus taught. We do know that, at the very least, the ladies ministered to Him (Matthew 27:55). The Greek word for minister is diakoneó and means “to serve or minister”. It generally means to “care for others” and was also used to mean “serving at the table”. Mary Magdalene is mentioned in Matthew 27:56, 61, Matthew 28:1; Mark 15:40, 47, Mark 16:1, 9; Luke 8:2, Luke 24:10; John 19:25, 20:1, 11-18 and she is possibly included in Acts 1:14, but she is not mentioned by name. (Back)

22 Mary, the mother of Joses: Mary, the mother of James and Joseph/Joses is also called Mary, the mother of James the Less (see Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40). I’ve been kicking around the idea that it’s possible that Mary the mother of Joses/Joseph and James, as well as Jude, whose book is placed before Revelation, is Mary, the mother of Jesus. See Matthew 13:55, 27:56, Mark 6:3, 15:40 and see Jude 1. James the disciple, son of Alphaeus, is never called James the Less in any account, and the phrase “James the Less” is only used in Mark. Here’s a link to my study on the whole James debate. Unless there is a direct identity provided in the Bible, we are speculating on which James is which. Just like there were so many people named “Mary” mentioned, there were probably lots of people named “James”, too. (Back)

23 and the other Mary: The other Mary may be Mary the mother of James and Joseph/Joses, but it is unclear. See Matthew 27:61, Mark 15:47, Luke 23:55-56 for mention of these women. (Back)

24 These women: We can safely assume that Mary Magdalene came from Magdala which was on the western side of the Sea of Galilee. (Back)

25 they returned: It is assumed that the ladies returned to wherever they were staying during the Passover and Sabbath, but the Bible does not say where that is at. (Back)

26 according to the commandment: Exodus 20:8-11; 31:12-17 where resting on the seventh day is recorded as a commandment from God. (Back)

27 You have a guard: This is the group of Roman soldiers that was granted to the Jews. See Matthew 28:12, 14. One could say that this Roman guard came from the Herodians’ influence, because they had been conspiring to put Jesus to death along with the Pharisees. Pilate really only comes into the story during Jesus’s trial but Herod and his Herodians are mentioned a few times before (Matthew 22:15, 16, Mark 3:6, 8:15, 12:13, Luke 13:31-32 and Acts 4:27).We really don’t know much about the guard or who they came from because the Bible doesn’t say. (Back)

28 seal on the stone: I believe this seal is Roman, because the guard is Roman. I believe the guard is Roman because of Matthew 27:65-66 and 28:12, 14. Also, the relevance of a Jewish seal on such an important tomb seems silly, as the Jews didn’t have much power of their own. However, one could argue that the Jews sure had enough power to pressure Pontius Pilate into crucifying people. Simply put, the Bible doesn’t state whether the seal was Roman or Jewish. If it was a Roman seal on Jesus’s tomb, it was an object of authority. (Back)

Jesus Before the High Priest and Peter’s Denial

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Scripture Used to Create the Splice “Jesus Before the High Priest and Peter’s Denial”

Matthew 26:57-75 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Matthew 26:57)

Mark 14:53-72 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Mark 14:53)

Luke 22:54-71 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Luke 22:54)

John 18:12-27 (Greek Text Analysis starting with John 18:12)

 

Need to catch up first? To read the Splice “The Betrayal and Illegal Arrest of Jesus”, click here.

 

Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.

 

THE SPLICE

1 The Roman cohort, their commander and the officers of the Jews 2 arrested Jesus and bound Him. 3 Peter and another disciple followed after Jesus at a distance. Those arresting Jesus took Him to the house of the high priest. The high priest that year was 4 Caiaphas. Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was 5 expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people. All of the chief priests, scribes, and elders were gathered there with Caiaphas at his house; 6 Annas, a previous high priest and Caiaphas’s father-in-law, was also there.  Those who arrested Jesus led Him to Annas first. During this time, Peter and 7 the other disciple had followed Jesus all the way up to the courtyard of the high priest. The other disciple was known to the high priest, and he was able to enter with Jesus into the high priest’s court, but Peter was standing at the door, outside. So the other disciple went over and spoke to the doorkeeper (who was a female slave) and 8 he brought Peter in. Then the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You are not 9 also one of His disciples, are you?” Peter denied it and said, “I am not.” Now the slaves and the officers were sitting there, in the courtyard, having made a charcoal fire in the middle of it, for the night was cold and they were all warming themselves. 10 Peter was below in the courtyard, amongst them, 11 sometimes standing/sometimes sitting and warming himself, awaiting the outcome of Jesus’s trial before the high priest. Now during this time, Jesus was before Annas, and Annas then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret. Why do you question Me? 12 Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.” When He said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer 13 the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?” So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. (The rest of Peter’s denial of Jesus and Jesus’s time before Caiaphas probably happened simultaneously). While Jesus was before Caiaphas, Peter was below in the courtyard, still warming himself by the fire with the officers and some of the slaves. Now a servant-girl of the high priest came to him, seeing him in the firelight, warming himself, and she was 14 intently looking at him and said directly to Peter, “You too were with Jesus the Nazarene, the Galilean.” And she said to the others around “This man was with Him, too”. But 15 denied it before all of the officers and slaves, saying to her, “Woman, I do not know Him. 16 I do not know, nor do I understand what you are talking about.” Then Peter went out onto the porch. When he had gone out to the gateway, the servant-girl saw him again and with another servant-girl, said to the bystanders who were there, “This man is one of them! He was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again, he denied it with 17 an oath, 18 “I do not know the man.” And during this exchange with the servant-girls, another man was also there who was saying along with the servant girls, “You are one of them too!” And Peter answered him directly and said, “Man, I am not!” After about an hour had passed, the bystanders from earlier saw Peter and one of the men in the group said to the others, in Peter’s hearing, “Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.” And this group then addressed Peter directly, saying, “Surely you too are one of them for you are a Galilean too; for even the 19 way you talk gives you away.” Then he began to 20 curse and swear, addressing the individual man and the whole group saying, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about; I do not know the man, this man you are talking about!” One of the slaves of the high priest, who was a relative of 21 Malchus, who may have been with the group of bystanders, was in near proximity to Peter at this time. He said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter then denied it again, and immediately, while Peter was still talking, a rooster crowed for the second time. The Lord Jesus turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “22 Before a rooster crows today, crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Meanwhile, the chief priests and the whole Council/Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death, and they were not finding any testimony that they could use.  Even though many false witnesses came forward and many were giving false testimony against Him, their testimony was not consistent. But later on, 23 two false witnesses came forward, stood up, and gave false testimony. One said “This man stated, I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.’” And the other said, “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another 24 made without hands.’” 25 Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent.   The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying to Him, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” But Jesus kept silent and did not answer. 26 When it was day, the Council of elders of the people assembled, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Jesus away to their council chamber. They were saying to Him, “If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “27 If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I ask a question, you will not answer.” And again, the high priest was questioning Him, and said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God. Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; I am; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter, from now on, you will see 28 THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER of God, and COMING WITH THE 29 CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.” And they all said, “Are You the Son of God, then?” And He said to them, “Yes, I am.”  Then the high priest 30tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy. What do you think? How does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Jesus to be deserving of death and answered, “What further need do we have of testimony? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth. He deserves death!” Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking Him, and then some began 31 spit at Him, they spat in His face and then blindfolded Him, beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, and said, “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?” And they were saying many other things against Him, blaspheming. Then the officers received Him with slaps in the face.

 

 

 

Want to continue reading? To read the Splice “Jesus Before Pilate, the First Time” click here

 

NOTES

 

1  Roman cohort: Although there have been debates as to whether or not the Romans were involved in the arrest of Jesus, John 18:12 is clear that there were Roman soldiers present. The Greek word used in John 18:3, 12 for cohort is speira which means “a body of soldiers”. The Greek word used in John 18:12 for the word commander is chiliarchos which means “a commander of a thousand”. Mark 14:54, 65 and Matthew 26:58 uses the word officers which is the Greek word hupéretés meaning “officer, underling, attendant”. It is unknown how the Pharisees came into possession of this Roman cohort in the first place, but it certainly could have been the Herodians that arranged for it. The Herodians had been in partnership with the Pharisees, plotting Jesus’s murder (see Matthew 22:15, 16; Mark 3:6, 8:15, 12:13). The Jews and Pontius Pilate had a shaky relationship, but it is possible that at some point Pilate had given the guard to the Sanhedrin/Pharisees just to make them happy.  (Back)

2 arrested Jesus: The arrest happened in the Garden of Gethsemane, after the Last Supper. To read about Jesus’s time right before the arrest, see Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40-46. To read the Splice about Gethsemane, click here. (Back)

3  Peter and another disciple followed Jesus at a distance: Peter and the unknown disciple were at a distance because all of the disciples had run away when Jesus was being arrested (Matthew 26:56; Mark 14:50). At some point, Peter and the other guy returned and decided to follow Jesus to the high priest’s house (Matthew 26:58; Mark 14:54; Luke 22:54; John 18:15). It is unknown what happened to the other 9 disciples at that time and we don’t know where traitor Judas went, either. We do know that at the very least, John shows back up at the foot of the cross (John 19:26) and all of Jesus’s friends were there at His death, looking on from a distance (Luke 23:49).  (Back)

4 Caiaphas: Having the office of high priest was quite a position to have, reaping respect and deference from the Jewish people. As high priest, Caiaphas would be responsible for entering the Holy of Holies and making atonement for the people of Israel once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Leviticus 16 gives information on this holiest of days. The reason why we no longer observe this holy day, as Christians, is because Jesus is our High Priest (Hebrews 4:15; 5:9-10) and His sacrifice was once and for all; atonement never needs to be made again (Hebrews 10:1-18; Romans 6:10). As a side note, the very first high priest of Israel was Aaron, Moses’s brother (Exodus 28:41; 29:9). (Back)

5  expedient for one man to die: This conversation happened when the Pharisees had gone to Caiaphas because they had were quite upset by Jesus’s miracles, particularly the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-46). They went to the high priest, complaining that if Jesus went on performing miracles then everyone would believe in Him, and they feared that if this happened, then Rome would take their nation away. Caiaphas basically gave the stamp of approval for killing Jesus, to save the nation of Israel. See John 11:47-52 to read about this meeting. (Back)

6  Annas: It is unknown whether or not Annas lived with his daughter and son-in-law, Caiaphas. It is unknown whether or not his daughter was still alive. We do know that Annas was high priest at one time, in conjunction with Caiaphas, at the beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry (Luke 3:2), during the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar (Luke 3:1). Annas and Caiaphas show up again, in Acts 4:1-23, when John and Peter are preaching about Jesus’s resurrection. They even recognized John and Peter as having been with Jesus (Acts 4:13).  (Back)

7 the other disciple: Many people assume that the “other disciple” has to be John the disciple/apostle and writer of the gospel of John (as well as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd letters of John and Revelation). Only John records that Peter had a fellow disciple with him, following Jesus to the high priest’s house (John 18:15). John may or may not have been the apostle accompanying Peter to Jesus’s trial. Why would John mention this disciple if it wasn’t him? On the other hand, John does not refer to the “other disciple” with Peter as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (see John 13:23, 19:26, 20:2, 21:20-24). John’s usage of  “the disciple whom Jesus loved” is the only confirmed reference to himself throughout his book, as he explains in John 21:24, in reference for John 13:23; 21:20-24 and therefore by relation for 19:26 and 20:2. Another thing to think about is that John and Peter (along with James and Andrew) were fishermen at the Sea of Galilee and therefore probably not highly esteemed among the upper classes in Jerusalem, nor were they probably wealthy. Why would John be known to the high priest of the Sanhedrin at all (John 18:16)? The high priest had the top job over the Sanhedrin, which was the high court of Israel, and he was highly esteemed and wealthy. Back then (just like all through history), common/poor did not mingle with esteemed/wealthy. It is more probable that the relationship that the “other disciple” had with the high priest would have existed before this person became a disciple of Jesus. The word used for known John 18:15 is the Greek word gnóstos which means “known; an acquaintance”. This does suggest an actual relationship, even if a shallow one, and not just “known” by reputation. Besides these two disciples, we can also wonder if traitor Judas was there for the trial proceedings at the house of Caiaphas. The Bible never mentions Judas’s presence at any of the trials of Jesus (there were 5), except possibly in Matthew 27:3 by saying that Judas “saw” that Jesus had been condemned.  The Greek word used for saw in Matthew 27:3 is horaó which means to “see, look upon, experience, perceive”. The word can be used literally or metaphorically, so we can’t know for sure if Judas was physically present at Jesus’s illegal trial. (Back)

8  he brought Peter in: The other disciple is never mentioned again, after this verse in John 18:16.  (Back)

9 also one of this man’s disciples: The Greek word used in John 18:17 for also is kai which means “and, even, also, namely”. In saying “also”, she might have known the other disciple and known about his conversion to becoming a disciple of Jesus’s (another possible indication that perhaps the disciple knew the high priest before his days of following Jesus). But this asks the question: why was Peter afraid, if the other disciple wasn’t? Perhaps Peter didn’t feel he had the same immunity or protection that the other disciple might have had, since this other disciple was known to the high priest (John 18:15). However, there probably wasn’t any protection for anyone from this angry, vengeful mob. Even members of the Sanhedrin who believed in Jesus were afraid of saying so out loud because of the Pharisees and their ire (John 12:42-43). Also, it’s possible that the other disciple was just as afraid as Peter, but had decided he didn’t care anymore if he was arrested for his affiliation with Jesus. (Back)

10 Peter was below in the courtyard: The Greek word used for below in Mark 14:66 is kató meaning “beneath, bottom, down, under”.  This wording suggests that the trial before the high priest was held on an upper floor that looked out and down into the outside courtyard. We know the courtyard is outside because Matthew 26:69 says the courtyard is outside using the Greek word exó meaning “outside or without”. This courtyard is large enough to hold at least some of the officers from the crowd that arrested Jesus, some slaves, and possibly some animals (the Bible only mentions a rooster alongside Peter’s denials, but we don’t know if the rooster is in the courtyard). The room where Jesus’s trial is held must be big enough to hold some more officers and the Council and some false witnesses. This gives us the picture that the high priest’s house is larger than a common house.   (Back)

11 sometimes standing/sometimes sitting: Matthew 26:69 and Luke 22:55 say that Peter was sitting and John 18:25 says he was standing. Logic dictates that he did both while he was there. (Back)

12 Question those who have heard: This answer of Jesus’s, if acted upon, would have done a remarkable thing: given first-hand eyewitness testimony of what He actually said and taught. However, no one at this ridiculous excuse for a trial was truly interested in real testimony. The Council were interested in their agenda and the agenda was killing Jesus (Matthew 26:59; Mark 14:55, John 11:47-53).  (Back)

13 the high priest: Although it is stated that Caiaphas was that year’s high priest (John 18:13), perhaps it was also a title of respect kept for the rest of one’s life, after serving officially as the high priest. Maybe they meant “former high priest”, but the “former” is implied. In any case, Annas had some sort of perceived authority to the Jews (see note 6).  (Back)

14 intently looking at him: The Greek word for intently used in Luke 22:56 is atenizó and it means “to direct the gaze at; to look steadfastly” and has the feel of being “completely fixed” on someone. (Back)

15 Peter denied it: In each of the accounts, the word denial uses the Greek word arneomai and it means to “reject, disown, deny”. Jesus also uses the word deny in the accounts, but He uses a stronger version of the word: aparneomai. It means a strong rejection, or the act of disowning someone. See Matthew 26:70, 72, 75; Mark 14:68, 70, 72; Luke 22:57, 61; John 18:25, 27. (Back)

16 I do not know, nor do I understand: Mark 14:68. The Greek words used here for know (eidó) and understand (epistamai) show us that Peter is saying he has no concept or perception of Jesus. He wants the courtyard folks to believe that he is there, dressed not like a solider or a slave (legitimate people who would be there besides the Sanhedrin) and speaking in a Galilean accent, awaiting the results of Someone’s trial when he has no perception of that Person being in existence. No one is buying it. (Back)

17 an oath: Peter is “swearing to God” or “swearing by God”. Oaths or vows were taken very seriously in Jewish culture. They were used to prove honesty and truthfulness. A false oath is a serious offense against God and this was most certainly a false oath. See Leviticus 19:12; Zechariah 8:17. See Matthew 5:33-37 where Jesus says we are not to make any oaths at all. (Back)

18 “I do not know the man.” See note 15 for usage of the Greek word eidó (Back)

19 way you talk: Peter was from Bethsaida (John 1:44) in Galilee. He had a house in Capernaum, also in Galilee, see Mark 1:21-29; Luke 4:31-38. Galileans were probably plain folk, Galilee being a fishing region, and therefore probably not especially elegant, particularly in speech. The dialect used in Galilee may have sounded a bit rustic to finely tuned ears and/or it had a specific “Galilean” accent.  (Back)

20 curse and swear: See Mark 14:71. The Greek word for curse used in Mark 14:71 is anathematizó and it’s simple definition is to “invoke a curse” and “to devote someone or something to destruction”. A human curse (not divine curses) in its most simplistic idea, wishes evil and bad things upon someone or something. The Greek word for swear used in Mark 14:71 is omnuó, and its simple definition is “to promise with an oath”. Peter did not necessarily use obscenities, but he was invoking curses upon himself, perhaps even Jesus, and promising under an oath that he did not know Jesus. To summarize, Christians shouldn’t be cursing, which is an expression of wrath and vengeance. See Romans 12:14, 17, 19, 21 on curses and vengeance. We should not be taking oaths (Matthew 5:34-37; James 5:12), nor using obscenities (Ephesians 5:4, Colossians 3:8). For a few more verses about the tongue/what we say, see Proverbs 18:6-7; Proverbs 21:23; James 3:3-12.  (Back)

21 Malchus: Malchus was also a slave of the high priest (John 18:10). In summary, Peter had cut off Malchus’s right ear with a sword while the arrest of Jesus was about to happen in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus told Peter to put his sword away because He would allow this arrest to happen and then He healed Malchus’s ear. See Matthew 26:51-54; Mark 14:47; Luke 22:50-51; John 18:10-11. Only Luke tells us that Jesus healed the cut off ear.  (Back)

22 Before a rooster crows today, before a rooster crows twice: The accounts about the prediction of the rooster and the actual crowing of the rooster are found in the following: Matthew 26:34, 74; Mark 14:30, 72; Luke 22:34, 60; John 13:38, 18:27. Only Mark tells us that the rooster crowed twice. It should be understood that the Greek word used for twice in Mark 14:30 is dis which means “twice, utterly or entirely” and in Mark 14:72 the Greek word for second is deuteros which means “afterward, again, secondarily, second, in the second place, the second time”. It should also be understood that in none of the accounts is the word “rooster” actually proceeded by “a” or “the” because there is no distinction. It could be “the rooster” (specific rooster or a representative rooster for all roosters) or it could be “a rooster” (unspecific rooster). Roosters begin crowing before sunrise, sometime between 4am and 6am, called Anticipatory Predawn Crowing, and it’s not just one “crow”.  If there is more than one rooster in a flock, there is a pecking order for when each rooster is allowed to crow. What does all this mean? I think it means that Jesus meant that before the main rooster of the high priest’s courtyard finished his morning announcement of the impending sunrise, Peter would have denied Him three grouped-up times (with several denials per grouping, as several people were accusing him). I think Mark is making the distinction that this rooster crows twice for his morning hello, maybe even after all the other roosters have had their turn. The other 3 gospel writers just tell us that the rooster crowed, giving us the finished product without any of the crowing details, so to speak (Back)

23 two false witnesses: Both of these witnesses were misquoting Jesus. To see what Jesus actually said, see  John 2:18-22. Jesus said He would “raise up” the temple in three days. He uses the word egeiró to mean “raise up, arouse, to waken”. The witnesses are saying rebuild in Matthew 26:61 and Mark 14:58, using the Greek word oikodomeó, which means “to build, to build a house”. As a side note, Jesus will have two witnesses again, this time testifying for Him. See Revelation 11 (Back)

24 made without hands: The Greek word used for this phrase is acheiropoiétos and it is meant to be interpreted as divine design. The false witnesses are proclaiming that Jesus called Himself God. This would be a problem if any other person said they were God (Isaiah 44:6); we know that Jesus is God (John 10:30). Regardless, He didn’t actually use these words. See  John 2:18-22 (Back)

25 Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent: This is the crime that the Sanhedrin want to pin on Jesus, that He called Himself God. In reality, they are envious of Jesus (Matthew 27:18; Mark 15:10) and the miracles He has performed and the following He had acquired (Matthew 4:24-25). Jesus was also healing on the Sabbath, which they didn’t like (John 5:18) and Jesus didn’t mince words regarding the Pharisees’ hypocrisy to everyone (Matthew 23:1-36; Luke 12:1-3). To make the charge more palatable for Pilate, they tell him that Jesus is a troublemaker, stirring up the general population to revolt against Rome, calling Himself the King of the Jews (Luke 23:2, 5, 13, 14). (Back)

26 When it was day: It is possible that it took all night to find the false witnesses and it turned to day when they took Jesus to their council chamber. It is also possible that Jesus waited in prison while the council dispersed for a bit and when the council regathered a couple of hours later, it was considered “day”.  (Back) (Back)

27 If I tell you, you will not believe: It’s a worthless effort, trying to talk someone into believing about Jesus. We can only pray for people who do not believe Him and we can present the truth of the Bible. (Back)

28  THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER: Jesus is referring to Psalm 110:1.  (Back)

29  CLOUDS OF HEAVEN: Jesus is quoting from Daniel 7:13. I do not believe that the “clouds of heaven” are ordinary clouds, such as a cumulus cloud—something we would normally see in our atmosphere. I believe that there will be no mistaking these as supernatural clouds when they are seen.  (Back)

30 tore his robes: This was a traditional way to show mourning or grief. Many Jewish people still practice this tradition. In Joel 2:13, God instructs those who would turn to Him to rend their hearts, not their garments. This is what the repentance of sin is about. (Back)

31 to spit at Him: It was a disgrace to be spit on, particularly in the face (Numbers 12:14). Jesus was spit on, to fulfill the prophesy of Isaiah 50:6. (Back)

The Betrayal and Illegal Arrest of Jesus

by

Scripture Used to Create the Splice “The Betrayal and Illegal Arrest of Jesus”

Matthew 26:47-56 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Matthew 26:47)

Mark 14:43-52 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Mark 14:43)

Luke 22:47-53 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Luke 22:47)

John 18:2-11 (Greek Text Analysis starting with John 18:2)

 

Need to catch up first? To read the Splice “Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane”, click here

 

Zechariah 11:13
Then the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter, that magnificent price at which I was valued by them.” So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

 

THE SPLICE

Now 1 Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, who was betraying Jesus, knew the place of Gethsemane, for 2 Jesus had often met there with His disciples. Immediately while Jesus was still 3 speaking to the disciples, 4 behold, Judas, who was one of the twelve, came up. Judas was leading the way, followed by a large crowd which was comprised of a Roman 5 cohort (he had received them from the chief priests, scribes, elders of the people and the Pharisees), some chief priests, elders, and officers. This large crowd was carrying weapons, specifically 6 swords and clubs. They also had torches and lanterns. Judas approached Jesus to 7 kiss Him. Now Judas, who was betraying Jesus, had at an unspecified time previous, gave the crowd 8 a sign, a signal saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him and lead Him away under guard.” 9 Immediately Judas went up to Jesus saying, “Hail, 10 Rabbi!”. At the same time Judas was approaching Him, Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to Judas, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss? 11 Friend, do what you have come for.” 12 And Judas kissed Him. Jesus turned His attention back to the crowd and said to the crowd, 13 “Whom do you seek?” They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am He.” And Judas was now standing with the crowd. So when He said to them, “I am He,” 14 they drew back and fell to the ground. Therefore He again asked them, “Whom do you seek?” And 15 they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,” to fulfill the word which He spoke, “Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.” When the disciples who were around Him saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the 16 sword?” Then the crowd came forward and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. 17 And Simon Peter, having a sword, reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and 18 cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was 19 Malchus. Then Jesus answered, and said to Peter, “Stop! No more of this. Put your sword back into its place, into the sheath; 20 for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. Or do you think I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? The cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it? How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?” 21 And He touched Malchus’s ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, to this crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I was with you; and while I was with you daily in the temple, I used to sit in the temple teaching, and you did not lay hands on Me and seize Me. But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets. This hour and the power of darkness are yours.” So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, 22 arrested Jesus and bound Him. 23 Then all the disciples left Him and fled. 24 A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they seized him, too. But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked.

 

Want to keep reading? To read the Splice “Jesus Before the High Priest and Peter’s Denial” click here

 

NOTES

 

1  Judas Iscariot: It must be remembered that lots of people were named Judas, not just this infamous one, including a second disciple and Jesus’s half-brother. Judas in the Hebrew is “Yehudah” from a root word meaning “praised”. (Back)

2  Jesus had often met there with His disciples: See Luke 21:37 and 22:39. (Back)

3  speaking to the disciples: In the garden (Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46). To see the Splice about the garden of Gethsemane, click here. (Back)

4  behold: The Greek word used in Matthew 26:47 for behold is horaó and means “to see, perceive, attend to, discern”. This word can be used to mean metaphorically “look” or physically “look”. (Back)

5  cohort: John 18:3 uses the word cohort. The Greek word for cohort is speira and means anything wound up or coiled, or a body of soldiers. It also means “a tenth part of a legion”. A legion is 6,000 men. A tenth of 6,000 is 600. The Bible does not specify the exact number of people that were there in the mob. (Back)

6  swords and clubs: The Greek word for sword used in Matthew 26:47 is machaira which is a short sword or dagger. The Greek word for club used in Matthew 26:47 is xulon meaning “wood”. The word xulon can be applied to anything made of wood or a piece of wood, such as a club, staff, the trunk of a tree, or even the wood used to support the crossbar of a cross in crucifixion. (Back)

7  kiss Him: Matthew 26:49 and Mark 14:45 use the Greek word kataphileó and it means “to kiss affectionately”. Luke 22:47 uses the Greek word phileó and it means “to love”. Kisses were used as signs of respect back in the ancient world. But this kiss was also done with (false) affection and friendship. (Back)

8  a sign, a signal: The signal was worked out presumably when Judas and his thugs were still with the chief priests at their unspecified location, since Mark 14:43 says that Judas immediately went to Jesus as they walked up. The sign was established either when Judas worked out the price of the betrayal with the chief priests (Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6) or that night when he left the disciples and Jesus to go get his mob (John 13:30). Matthew, Mark and Luke don’t mention when Judas leaves supper to betray Jesus. John says that Judas left after receiving the morsel (see John 13:26-30). (Back)

9  text in italics: For the entire section in italics: this section of the event may have happened all at the same time, or in quick succession or in a different order. We can’t be sure because the Bible isn’t clear on the order or timing. (Back)

10  Rabbi: Matthew 26:49 and Mark 14:45 tell us that Judas used the word rabbi. The Greek word for rabbi is rhabbi and means “my master” or “my teacher”. (Back)

11  Friend, do what you have come for: From Matthew 26:50. The Greek word used here for friend is hetairos which means “a companion”. This can also mean “comrade”. (Back)

12  And Judas kissed Him: See Note 7. By using the Greek word kataphileó (meaning “to kiss fervently”), this allows for the possibility of Judas kissing Him repeatedly. (Back)

13  “Whom do you seek?”: Only John 18:4-8 tells us about this exchange. No one dragged Jesus off, Jesus didn’t try to hide, He didn’t even try to defend Himself; He simply stepped forward. He could have walked away, had He wanted to (Matthew 26:53). (Back)

14  they drew back and fell to the ground: People who don’t want to believe God will not believe no matter how much proof you give them, even with falls to the ground (John 18:6) and the healing of cut off ears (Luke 22:50-51). People who hate God and don’t want God in their lives would attribute these things to hallucinations or to a dream—anything but Jesus Himself. It’s good to remember that salvation and faith are gifts from God and we cannot conjure up such faith on our own (Ephesians 2:8-9). (Back)

15  they said, “Jesus the Nazarene”: I think a spokesman from the crowd said this (perhaps a Roman guard or someone with the authority to perform the arrest) or perhaps several people answered at once, some saying “Jesus” some saying “Jesus the Nazarene”, some saying something else, maybe even “The Rabbi”. People didn’t say the exact same thing in unison back then, just like they don’t today. Whenever the writers in the Bible say “they said,” I always assume a spokesperson said what everyone else was in agreement with, or else several people were talking over each other or at each other, speaking about the same idea while using their own words, all meaning the same thing and the writer picked the phrase that best described the idea at hand. (Back)

16  sword: It is nonsense to say that Jesus had the disciples carrying the swords to defend themselves against humans or even animals. Jesus had no use for any weapon and didn’t need one, Matthew 26:53. People carried these short swords (Greek: machaira, see John 18:10, Luke 22:49, Mark 14:47, Matthew 26:51) for usage other than as a weapon, like someone might carry a pocket knife today. The disciples had two of these short swords/daggers (see Luke 22:38) available to them. (Back)

17  And Simon Peter, having a sword, reached and drew out his sword: Matthew 26:51, Mark 14:47, Luke 22:49-50, John:18:10. It doesn’t seem that Peter waited for an answer from Jesus to the question “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” The question and the action could have been taking place at the same time. Also, it says in Luke that Jesus answers (Greek word: apokrinomai meaning “to answer or take up the conversation”) after the use of the sword (Luke 22:49-51). Only Luke mentions that the disciples asked Jesus if they should strike with the sword and it doesn’t say which disciples spoke out loud. They all could have been saying something out loud and meaning the same thing, speaking over each other in the panic of seeing a weaponized crowd grabbing at Jesus.  (Back)

18  cut off his right ear: There are some that say Peter was aiming for Malchus’s head or neck in order to decapitate him, but missed and caught his ear. This could be entirely true, but the Bible doesn’t say that. We do not know if Peter was an experienced swordsman or just a “slash and hack” kind of a guy. We do not know if there were enough lanterns/torches present in Peter’s vicinity to make the area bright enough to see someone’s ear or neck. We don’t even know if Peter was aiming for Malchus and we don’t know how close Peter was to Malchus. In any case, the point is that Peter took a sword and maimed Malchus by cutting off and completely removing his ear, and Jesus either put the ear back or regenerated a new ear or a little of both and healed it.  (Back)

19  Malchus: Later on that night one of Malchus’s relatives will see Peter at Jesus’s trial before the priests and give Peter a little trouble (see John 18:26). (Back)

20  for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword: See Genesis 9:6 and Revelation 13:10 for more on this idea. There is nothing in the Bible justifying any sort of lethal defense, even to save the life of Jesus, much less ourselves. (Back)

21  And He touched Malchus’s ear and healed him: How does this crowd see this action, (as well as being knocked to the ground when Jesus speaks to them) and still go ahead with the arrest? And why wasn’t Peter arrested for cutting someone? Was this not an arrestable offense? Was the fact that the ear was healed a mitigating factor? Or were they all just so caught up in arresting Jesus that an assault didn’t matter enough to report it to the owner of Malchus (who was Caiaphas the high priest: see Luke 22:50 and Matthew 26:57 naming Caiaphas as the high priest)? Peter was the one who committed a crime that night and he went without an arrest—Jesus saved him from jail. I also wonder if Malchus turned to Christ after this happened or sometime later, when he perhaps thought about what happened that night. Most people didn’t seem to give Jesus a second thought after they got what they wanted from Him, but that wasn’t always the case (see Luke 17:17-18). (Back)

22  arrested Jesus and bound Him: This arrest was illegal, as well as the trial by the high priest and the conviction. Not one charge was brought up nor one point proved to make this disaster a legal and proper proceeding. Also, it was conducted in the middle of the night and not during the day when legal proceedings took place. (Back)

23  Then all the disciples left Him and fled: This was prophesied by Jesus in John 16:32. See John 18:10-12, to note that this fact of fleeing is missing. Matthew, the other gospel-writing eyewitness to the arrest (along with the possibility of Mark being an eyewitness, but we can’t be sure) however, does mention it in Matthew 26:56. (Back)

24  A young man: This information is from Mark 14:51-52. Many people think this was Mark himself. We can’t be sure.  If it was Mark, why didn’t he just write that he himself was there as an eyewitness to the travesty of this arrest? If it isn’t Mark, why would he include the information at all? It can be certain that the information wasn’t included for comedy relief, but it was included to show the franticness and seriousness of the situation. One point to remember: it was cold out. It’s April, and there is mention of the cold in Mark 14:54, 67, Luke 22:55, John 18:18, 25. This young man was in such a hurry that he threw a linen sheet around himself (instead of getting fully dressed when it is cold out) to see what this crowd was up to, perhaps as they were marching themselves out of Jerusalem. At the mountain, the situation turned serious, and it was enough to run away from this crowd, abandoning the previously mentioned sheet. I heard a pastor say the young man was already on the mountain, sleeping, when this crowd came along to arrest Jesus but that doesn’t make sense. He wouldn’t have been “naked” with just a sheet on himself out on a cold mountain. He would have been fully dressed, using his cloak as a blanket. (Back)